The Story of Classical is your essential nine-part companion guide to classical music. In each of our commentaries, we unlock the mystery and beauty of every musical period—from the Middle Ages to the present day—by chronicling an encounter between vital figures in music history. In this introduction, we start with the basics. What is a symphony, a concerto, or a sonata? And what exactly is ‘classical music’? Get acquainted with the instruments and some of their incredible music, enjoy a quick guide to each major musical period, and discover the riches in store over the following eight parts. Enjoy the commentary in full on the first track, and on subsequent tracks explore all of its featured music.